The Square Donut, a story of love, death and donuts.

Row up to the shore of the Great Lake Erie, step over the dead fish and enter the world of Toby Renfrew, future heiress reluctant to The Precinct Donut Emporium, home of the square donut with the amazing pink icing. The year is 1977. The Vietnam War is a fresh scar on America’s wrist. John Travolta makes white double-knit dance. And 17-year-old Toby’s hellishly dull life takes an unexpected turn when Carolina’s thumb lands her in “Dishrag,” Ohio.

​Toby finds herself attracted to Carolina in every way, from her ice-blue Grace Slick eyes to her searing-hot intensity. Coinciding with her (willing) seduction by Carolina, Toby's father unwittingly asks if she’d be generous enough to share her room with the poor homeless girl. Toby’s brother, Friday, spews his coffee at the suggestion. Her Auntie Flo, a bible-toting member of the Christ Almighty Baptist Church weighs in, as does the homophobic local fuzz, Officer Wheedle, who wants a piece of Carolina for himself. But when death casts its shadow across the threshold of The Precinct, and Carolina goes back home to face her demons, Toby is left to grapple with her own. Can she find the courage to claim the life and the love that she desires?

Exploring the warmth and sweetness of life and the pain of loss with both empathy and humor, The Square Donut is a story of love, death and donuts.

Reviews and Reader Comments

“Quick-paced without feeling rushed and poignant without being preachy. Crane got me to laugh out loud. A banner first novel.” —Leah Downing, Best-Selling AuthorCatch a Falling StarThe Path of Least Resistance

"Lauren Crane writes with the deft blend of humor and poignancy that can only come from having a deep and wise soul. The Square Donut charms, illuminates, and nourishes - just what a reader hopes for from a great story. Don't miss this one!" -- Anna Lefler, Comedy Writer and AuthorPreschooledThe Chicktionary​​

What Readers are Saying

“I laughed out loud on pg. 14 I cried on pg. 173 I looked up a word on pg. 230 I wished there was more on pg. 242 I had the middle seat on my flight and didn't even know it!”

“Totally charming!!! Hard to put down, yet I didn't want it to end.”

“This book was my reading pleasure for my week away at the beach. Thank you, Lauren Crane. Look forward to book #2.”

“Absolutely loving The Square Donut. It's funny, witty, and makes you reminisce about your first loves in life.”“Read in one day, and promptly passed along to those I think will love it as much as I did. Excellent read. Well done, Lauren Crane. Thank you for sharing that world with us.”

“The story is touching, funny and heart-breaking. I think many of us can relate to ‘walking around feeling like a donut...’”

“The Square Donut is clever, funny and heartwarming. (I didn't copy that from NY Times Book Review.)”

“The highlight of my 4th of July weekend. Nothing better than a fabulous book and sunshine. Thank you, Lauren Crane. Loved every page. Please begin work on the next.”